Dispensing box



Aug 5, 1941.

w, "r. HOLLAND DISPENSING BOX Filed Nov. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 5,1941- w. T. HOLLAND 2,251,405

DISPENSING BOX Filed NOV. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 5, 1941ETE STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING BOX William '1. Holland, Stockton,Calif.

Application November 9, 1939, Serial No. 303,696

11 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of receptacles and pertainsparticularly to dispensing receptacles.

The present invention is directed to improvements in receptacles orboxes designed for merchandizing of pills and tablets and has for itsprimary object to provide such a receptacle or box having a' novel andimproved form of means iacilitating the dispensing of tablets or pillsindividually therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pill or tablet boxhaving a novel dispensing means by means of which one tablet or one pillat a time may be dispensed and another tablet or pill held in readinessfor dispensing by a novel means which is adapted to be shifted through aprescribed manipulation of the box so that such pill or tablet may bemoved up into position where it may be discharged or dispensed from thebox. Another and further object of the invention is to provide in adispensing box for pills and tablets, means whereby the number of sucharticles in the box may be readily ascertained at the same time that thebox cover or lid is shifted to the necessary position to permit thedischarge of one of the pills or tablets therefrom, thereby enabling theuser of the box to tell at a glance whether the box is full or, if someof the contents have been previously removed, how many of the pills ortablets remain.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel meansassociated with a dispensing I receptacle or box for controlling theflow of the articles in the box toward the portion from which sucharticles may be discharged whereby the discharge of the articles singlyis easily governed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention a Fig. 1 shows in top planone form of tablet or pill box constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, a portion of the sliding top of the same being brokenaway.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in edge elevation and partly in longitudinalsection showing a modified construction of the tablet or pill guardshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in plan of another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a View in plan of still another modification of the inventionwherein the box top is provided with a sliding closure member for adischarge opening.

Fig. 7 is a view looking toward the inner side of that side of themodified form shown in Fig. 6, to which the sliding closure is attached,showing the means for controlling the individual movement of articlestoward the discharge opening.'

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. '7.

- Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a modified form of the article guidebar.

Fig. '10 is a View illustrating another modification or the articleguide bar.

Fig. 11 is a detailed sectional View of a guide bar showing a method offorming a guide for the stop pin carried by the bar.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the guide bar showing another methodofcontrolling the movement of the stop pin. I

Fig. 13 is a sectional View on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View of a guide bar showing still another-methodof controlling the movement of the stop pin.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 15-45 of Fig. 14.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observedthat although several forms of boxes have been illustrated showingdifferent modifications of the pill or tablet dispensing means, eachform includes as an essential detail an element hereinafter morespecifically described and referred to as a stop pin by which the pillsor tablets in the boxes are-allowed to move singly toward the dischargeopening.

In Fig. 1, the numeral l designates a flat box of the type ordinarilyemployed for marketing flat tablets such as tablets of aspirin or thelike, this box consisting broadly of a bottom portion 2 and a slidingtop 3 which is shifted longitudinally of the bottom portion to uncoverthe contents of the latter. While this box I and those shown in Figs. 2to5 inclusive have been illustrated as containing tablets, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited to the use of boxesdesigned for tablets but may be used also in association with boxes inwhich pills are dispensed.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, one end wall of the bottomportion of the box is provided with an integral plate 4 which is bentinwardly to lie within the upper part of the bottom portion of the boxin the plane of the top edge of this portion and spaced from the lowerWall of the bottom portion so as to permit the tablets 5, or pills, tolie therebeneath. This plate 4 constitutes a guard plate which preventsthe tablets or pills from escaping from the box when the lid 3 isshifted a prescribed distance for the opening of the box. The plate 4 isprovided with a number of apertures 6 of any suitable form through whichthe user of the box may determine approximately the number of tabletsremaining therein.

It will be observed that the guard plate 4 has one end in closeproximity to a side Wall of the bottom portion 2 while its opposite endis spaced from the opposite side wall. Adjacent the said opposite end ofthe guard plate there is fixed a guide bar I which extends across thewidth of the guard plate 4 and shuts off the space between this plateand the bottom wall of the lower portion 2 of the box, thus providingthe area 8 between the guide bar and the nearest side wall of the lowerportion 2 of the box through which tablets may be discharged when thelid or cover 3 is drawn back to a position where the edge nearest theguard plate 4 approximately alines with the free inner edge of thisplate.

The guide bar I is in the form of a flat strip of material, the width ofwhich is substantially equal to the depth of the lower portion 2 of thebox between the bottom wall of the latter and the top edge of its sidewalls and while this guide bar may be attached in any suitable manner tothe adjacent end wall of the lower portion, it is here shown as having alaterally extending foot or angled portion 9 which is riveted to theadjacent wall so that it will hold the bar rigidly in position andextending longitudinally of the box. This bar I is preferably of alength equaling the combined diameters of two tablets or pills so thatas shown in Fig. 1, two such tablets may take up a position between theguide bar and the adjacent side wall of the box.

The guide bar I has an aperture formed therethrough at a distance fromthe end which is attached to the end wall of the box, substantiallyequaling the diameter of one tablet or pill and in this aperture thereis loosely engaged a short stop pin I I] which has a head upon each endwhich permits it to shift transversely of the guide bar 1.. When thispin has been shifted toward the side of the box remote from the guidebar I, it will be out of the way of a tablet moving between the guidebar and the nearest side wall of the box, thus permitting such tablet tomove all the way through the elongated area 8 to a position against theend wall, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that when the cover 3has been drawn back or shifted away. from the plate 4runtil it uncoversthe major portion of the plate 4 and the tablet which is located in theend of the discharge space 8, this tablet may be discharged or dumpedout of the box into the hand.

It will be obvious that when the box is used by a right-handed person,it will be held in the right hand and the tablet will be discharged intothe left hand. Consequently the side of the box nearest the guide bar Iwill be down or below the opposite side when the box is tipped over todischarge the tablet and this will result in the movement of the stoppin I0 back, so that its major portion extends into the area 8 in themanner in which it is shown in Fig. 1. This will prevent the next tabletfrom sliding down along the area 8 toward the nearest end wall of thebox and thus only the tablet which had been initially placed in the endof the area 8 can be discharged. If a second tablet is desired, then theuser will tip the box so as to bring the side nearest the guide bar Iuppermost, thus causing the stop pin to shift back in the direction ofthe guard plate 4, at the same time tipping the box in a direction tocause the tablets to slide toward the end to which the guide bar I isattached. Thus a second tablet will move into discharge position and bythen reversely tipping the box or moving it back to its originalposition where the side wall nearest the bar 1 is lowermost, the tabletcan be discharged into the hand. During these movements of the box, itwill be seen that the guard plate 4 will prevent tablets from fallingout of the box on what might be termed the upper side of the guide bar Iwhich is the side directed toward the remote side wall of the box.

In Fig. 1, the cover 3 of the box is shown as having an inpressed buttonH which will engage the end wall of the box remote from the guard plate4 and limit the movement of the cover so that it will at no timecompletely uncover the guard plate 4.

In Fig. 3, the box indicated is generally designated by the numeral I2.This box carries a guard plate l3 which is of exactly the same characteras the plate 4 and cooperates with a guide bar and stop pin, not shown,which are of the same character. and secured to the end wall in the sameway as those shown in Fig. 1. In this form, however, the guard plate I3instead of being an integral inturned part of the end wall of the box isseparately formed and is provided with a flanged edge I4 which isdisposed against the inner side of the box end wall and secured theretoby rivets I5 or in any other suitable manner. All other features of thisbox I2 are exactly the same as those shown in connection with box I.

Fig. 4 illustrates a slightly modified form of the invention wherein thebox indicated generally by the numeral I6 and having the bottom portionI1 and slidable top portion I8, has the top portion provided with arivet or pin I 9 which slidably engages in a guide slot 20 formed in theguard plate 2|. This guard plate M is here shown as forming an inturnedportion of the end wall of the box like the plate 4, but it may beseparately formed and riveted to the end Wall of the box like the plateI3. This movement limiting means for the box top or cover I8 takes theplace of the button II of Fig. 1 and couples the slide or top with theguard plate. It will be understood that in the use of these forms of themeans for limiting the sliding movement of the box cover, the parts willbe assembled or connected together by the manufacturer of the commodityto go into the box after the box has been filled.

Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive illustrate still another form or application ofthe invention. In this form the box is indicated generally by thenumeral 22 and is of the type in which two portions are tightly joinedtogether after the box has been filled, one of such portions beingindicated by the numeral 23 and having means associated therewith foropening a discharge outlet or opening 24 which is formed through thewall of this portion in one corner of the box. This face'of the portion23 of the box is provided with the inpressed guides 25 which support agate or sliding closure member 26 which,'when extended longitudinallytoward the apertured corner of the box, closes the discharge opening 24.Within the box, the end wall adjacent the closure 26 has secured theretoa guide bar 21 which extends longitudinally through a portion of thelength of the box in spaced relation with the side wall nearest theopening 24 so as to provide an elongated receiving area 28,corresponding to the area 8 of Fig. 1 into which tablets or pills maygravitate for discharge through the opening 24. This guide bar carriesthe shiftable stop pin 29 which is located the proper distance from thenearest end wall of the box to permit only a single tablet or pill tomove into position where it can be discharged through the opening 24when the closure or gate 26 is retracted. The operation of the guide andstop of this box structure is exactly the same as described inconnection with box I.

In each of the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 7, theguide bar for the pill or tablet has its free end straight. However, itmay be desirable to form this bar with the terminal.

portion angularly extended as, for example, in Fig. 9 the guide barshown and indicated by the numeral 30 has an angular or obliquelyextending terminal portion 3| which, when the bar is used in theposition of bar 1 in Fig. 1, would be directed away from the area 8 andwould operate to guide the tablets into position in this area.

In Fig. 10, the guide bar which is indicated by the numeral 32, has theobliquely directed terminal portion 33 extending in the oppositedirection from the bar shown in Fig. 9, and when this bar 32 is used inplace of the bar 1' in Fig. 1, this terminal portion will function tokeep the second one of the two tablets which are located in the area 8from rolling out of this area when the box is tipped in the direction tocause the stop pin to move out of the way so that the second tabletmight be rolled forward into discharging position. In other words, inthe use of the box, the user might accidentally raise that end to whichthe guard plate 4 is attached, instead of lowering it, when tipping thebox away from him in order to shift the pin l0 out of the way for thesecond tablet to move into discharging position, in which case if theturned portion 33 is not present and directed toward the area 8, thesecond tablet would roll back toward the end of the box remote from theplate 4.

As previously stated, the guide bars are preferably formed of a strip ofribbon or band-like material, therefore, they would be relatively thinand it will be obvious that the aperture through which the stop pinpasses would not provide the most satisfactory guide means for the pinas the pin would be apt to assume a slightly angular position withrespect to the length of the guide bar and jam instead of shiftingsmoothly. In

order to avoid this, several diiTerent methods might be employed, suchmethods for avoiding the catching of the stop pin or for causing thestop pin to shift smoothly, being shown in Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive.

In Fig. 11, the guide bar 34 is provided with a thickened portion 35 ofsolder or other suitable material through which the aperture 36 isformed for the stop pin 31.

In Figs. 12 and 13, the desired additional thickness for the area of theguide bar through which the stop pin aperture is formed, is provided bysecuring across the bar 38a plate 39, the ends of which are turned underas shown in Fig. 13, to maintain the plate in position and the guideopening 40 for the stop pin 4| is formed through this plate 39 and thebar 38.

In Figs. 14 and 15, the desired additional thickness for the guide baris obtained by providing the guide bar 42 with an integral edge lip 43which is turned over against one side of the guide bar and the aperture44 for the pin 45 is then iormed through this lip and the guide bar inthe manner shown.

. proper discharge opening is made for the tablet or pill, there is nodanger of a second tablet slipping out through the discharge openingafter the first one has been discharged as the shiftable pin immediatelymoves into stopping position for the next tablet as the box is tippedinto the position necessary for the discharge of the tablet or pilltherefrom.

While in the several forms of the invention shown, the guide bar hasbeen illustrated as being of a length to cover two tablets only, it willbe understood that this bar may be made of additional length if desired,so that three or more tablets may be run into the discharge area betweenthe guide bar and the nearest side of the box, which leads to thedischarge opening.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing receptacle for round objects of the nature of tabletsand pills, a shiftable member forming a part of the receptacle and whenmoved to one position uncovering a discharge opening of a size to permita single object to pass out of the receptacle, a guide member within thereceptacle between two spaced walls thereof and forming in associationwith one of the said walls a receiving area for a number of saidobjects, and a gravity actuated shiftable stop member carried by saidguide for controlling the advance of said objects singly through saidarea to said discharge opening.

2. In a device of the character described, a receptacle adapted tocontain round objects in the nature of tablets and pills, shiftablemeans forming a part of the receptacle for providing an object dischargeopening, an elongated guide member secured within the receptacle to onewall thereof and extending in spaced parallel relation with an adjacentwall to provide an elongated object receiving area leading to saidopening, the said area being of a width slightly greater than thediameter of the object and of a length at least as great as twice thediameter of the object, and a shiftable gravity controlled membercarried by said guide member and operable to permit only a single one ofsaid objects to move at one time through said area to said dischargingopening.

3. A dispensing receptacle of the character described, comprising a fiatbox body having a slidable cover, means limiting the sliding movement ofsaid cover to provide an open area through which objects may bedischarged from the box, a guide bar secured within the box in spacedparallel relation with a side wall thereof and extending across saidopen area to form in association with the said side wall an objectreceiving space, means disposed between said bar and the other side wallof the box forming a guard to prevent objects from escaping from thebox, and a stop pin carried by said bar and shiitable transverselythereof and positioned to prevent more than one of the objects movingthrough said space into the discharge area.

4. In a container for round articles of the nature of tablets and pills,a shiftable member forming a part of the container which when moved toone position provides an opening for the discharge of articles fromwithin the container, a fixed means within the container and forming apart thereof, coacting with a wall of the container to form an articlereceiving area of fixed dimensions leading to said opening, and.

gravity controlled movable stop means-joined to said first means andfacilitating the regulation of movement of the articles individually tosaid discharge opening.

5. In a dispensing container for round bodies of the nature of tabletsand pills, a box having a sliding top and having a bottom wall and sidewalls, a guard plate joined to one of said side walls and extending inspaced relation with the bottom wall toward the opposite side wall, theguard plate extending transversely of the box from one adjacent sidewall toward and stopping short of the other adjacent side wall, a guidemember secured at one end to the side wall to which the plate isattached and extending toward the said other side wall in spacedparallel relation with the said adjacent sidewall to form with thelatter an article receiving area, a portion of which is uncovered bysaid top to form a discharge opening when the top is shifted apredetermined distance away from said plate, and a gravity actuated stoppin carried by the guide member and adapted when in one position toproject into said area, said pin functioning to facilitate regulation ofthe movement of the bodies to the discharge opening.

6. In a dispensing receptacle for round bodies of the nature of tabletsand pills, a box of elongated rectangular form having a bottom portionincluding end and side walls and a sliding top connected with said sidewalls means limiting the movement of said top in one directionlongitudinally of the box whereby a narrow transversely extendingportion of the bottom is uncovered, a plate secured to the end wall toextend inwardly in spaced relation with the bottom of the box and topartially cover the said portion which is opened by the top, said plateextending from one side wall toward and terminating short of the otherside wall, an elongated bar secured to the same end wall as said plateand extending longitudinally of the box adjacent to the end of the platenearest the s'aidother side wall and forming with the said other'sidewall an area extending longitudinally of the box for the reception ofsaid bodies, and a pin' member carried by said bar and shiftabletransversely thereof and located on the bar a distance from the adjacentend wall at least equal to the diameter of one of the bodies, said pinmember having limited movement transversely of the bar and when in oneposition with respect thereto permitting the objects to pass throughsaid area toward the adjacent end wall and when in another positionchecking the movement of the objects through the area toward theadjacent end wall.

7. In a dispensing receptacle for round bodies of the nature of tabletsand pills, a box of elongated rectangular form having a bottom portionincluding end and side walls and a sliding top connected with said sidewalls, means limiting the movement of said top in one directionlongitudinally of the box whereby a narrow transversely extendingportion of the bottom is uncovered, a plate secured to the end wall toextend inwardly in spaced relation with the bottom of the box and topartially cover the said portion which is opened by the top, said plateextending from one side wall toward and terminating short of the otherside wall, an elongated bar secured to the same end wall as said plateand extending longitudinally of the box adjacent the end of the platenearest the said other side wall and forming with the said other sidewall an area extending longitudinally of the box for the reception ofsaid bodies, and a pin member carried by said bar and shiftabletransversely thereof and located on the bar a distance from the adjacentend wall at least equal to the diameter of one of the bodies, said pinmember having limited movement transversely of the bar and when in oneposition with respect thereto permittin the objects to pass through saidarea toward the adjacent end wall and when in another position checkingthe movement of the objects through the area toward the adjacent endwall, said bar member having the end thereof remote from the end wall towhich it is attached formed to provide an obliquely directed terminalportion.

8. In a dispensing receptacle for round bodies of the nature of tabletsand pills, a box of elongated rectangular form having a bottom portionincluding end and side walls and a sliding top connected with said sidewalls, means limiting the movement of said top in one directionlongitudinally of the box whereby a narrow tranversely extending portionof the bottom is uncovered, a plate secured to the end wall to extendinwardly in spaced relation with the bottom of the box and to partiallycover the said portion which is opened by the top, said plate extendingfrom one side wall toward and terminating short of the other side wall,an elongated bar secured to the same end wall as said plate andextending longitudinally of the box adjacent the end of the platenearest the said other side wall and forming with the said other sidewall an area extending longitudinally of the box for the reception ofsaid bodies, and a pin member carried by said bar and shiftabletransversely thereof and located on the bar a distance from the adjacentend wall at least equal to the diameter of one of the bodies, said pinmember having limited movement transversely of the bar and when in oneposition with respect thereto permitting the objects to pass throughsaid area toward the adjacent end wall and when in another positionchecking the movement of the objects through the area toward theadjacent end wall, said bar member being built up to provldeanarea ofincreased thickness around said pin member forming a guide means for thepin member by which the straight movement of the latter transversely ofthe bar is assured.

9. In a dispensing container for round bodies of the nature of tabletsand pills, a box having a bottom portion including side and end wallsand a sliding top, a guard plate secured to one end wall and extendingin a longitudinal direction in the box in spaced relation with the bot-.

tom wall and extending transversely of the box from one side wall towardand terminating short of the opposite side wall, a bar member secured atone end to the same end wall as said plate and extending longitudinallyof the body in spaced parallel relation with the said other side wall toform therewith an elongated receiving area for said bodies by which thebodies are guided in a row toward the adjacent end wall, a slidingcoupling between said top and said plate by which movement of the topaway from the plate is limited to uncover a portion of said area toprovide a discharge opening, and a pin member carried by the bar andhaving limited movement transversely thereof and transversely of the boxfor extension into and away from said area for the control of themovement of the bodies through the area to the discharge opening.

10. In a dispensing container for round bodies of the nature of tabletsand pills, a box having a bottom portion including side and end wallsand a top portion, said top portion having an opening therethrough in acorner of the box, a slidable closure member carried by the top portionand adapted to cover said opening, an arm secured at one end to the endwall of the box adjacent said opening and extending in a longitudinaldirection in the box in spaced parallel relation with the side walladjacent to said opening to form with said side wall a receiving areafor the bodies leading to the discharge opening, and a shiftable stoppin carried by the bar and having limited movement transversely thereofinto and out of said body receiving area, said stop pin being spacedfrom the adjacent end wall a distance sufficient to permit one only ofthe bodies to enter the end of the area between the pin and the adjacentend wall for discharge through the opening.

11. A dispensing receptacle for round objects of the nature of tabletsand pills, a shiftable member forming a part of the receptacle and whenmoved to one position uncovering a discharge opening of a size to permita single object to pass out of the receptacle, a guide member disposedwithin the receptacle between two spaced side walls thereof and formingin association with one of the walls a receiving area designed toreceive a number of said objects in an alined relation, and a gravityactuated shiftable stop member carried by said guide and movable on theguide in a line extending transverse ly of the receiving area forcontrolling the advance of said objects singly through said area to saiddischarge opening.

WILLIAM T. HOLLAND.

